Potential-regulator.



No. 855.450. PATENTED JUNE 4, 1907.

J. H. DUNCAN.

POTENTIAL REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.22,1906.

WIT/VESSES l/v'l/E/VTOR UNITED srarns PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES H. DUNCAN, or ST. ouis, Missouri, assic-uon or ONE-HALF TO JAuEsW. KA'Y'E, or ST. Louis, MISSOURI.

POTENTIAL-REGULATOR.

To all whom it may concern.-

ings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates more particularly to an automatic mechanism formaintaining substantially constant pressure in a circuit supplied withcurrent by a dynamo electric generator, or other similar source ofelectric current.

Referring to the drawings which show one form in which my invention maybe enibodied, Figure 1 is a side'elevation of the device, the casing inwhich it is contained being represented in section; and Fig. 2 is adiagrammatic view of the electrical connections.

is the casing which may be filled with anysuita'ble insulating fluid andis provided with a lid or plate 11 of insulating material:

'12 is a coil of wire wound upon a magnetic core 13 and the wholesupported on end pieces 14 attached to a conducting plate 15.

The plate 15 is secured to the lid 11 by means of a screw 17, and alsoby means of a screw 18, which latter is provided with a pillar 19 andacts as a binding screw for one of the terminals of the device. 21 areadditional binding screws also provided with pillars 22, for attachingthe various conductors to the device as hereinafter described. The endpieces 14 are provided with brackets 24 suitably secured thereto andeach having a set screw 25 and 26. These end pieces also carry contactplates 27 and 28. opposite the set screws 26 and 25 respectively.Between the inner ends of the screws 25 and 26 and armature 31 isconnected a relatively weak coil spring 34, the opposite end of which isfastened to the lowerend of a set screw 35 in the lid 11. In similarmanner a relatively Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 22,1906. Serial No. 307,325.

Patented June 4, 1907.

stronger spring 36 is connected to the arm 33 of the armature 3v and theopposite. end. of this spring is carried by another set screw 35.

'Both of the set screws 35 are made adjustable in the lid 11 by means ofadjusting collars 3S and lock nuts 39.

In Fig. 2, 40 indicates the field poles of an electric generator and 41its armature. From the brushes 42 of this armatureextends the armaturecircuit 43.. a'lhis circuit is connectedtwit-h the coil 12 of the magnetat both ends of said coil. From one end of'the coil 12 extends theconductor 45, between which and the conductor 46 are connected inmultiple lamps 47, or other translating devices. One end of the wire 46is connected with the contact 27. The field coil of the generator iscomposed of a conductor 49 extending from one of the brushes 42 aroundthe field poles 40 and thence to the set screw 25, thus placing the heldof the motor in series with the motor armature, the circuit beingthrough the magnet armature 30 connected with the armaturegcircuit 43 bymeans of a conductor 50. 51 is a conductor connecting one end of themagnet armature 31 with the circuit 43. The opposite end of the magnetarmature 31 is normally in contact with the inner end of the set screw26, the oppo site end of which screw is connected by a conductor 52 withone side of abattery 53, the opposite side of which is connected by aconductor 54 with the conductor 46.

In the operation of my device when the parts are in the position shownin the drawings and the armature 41 is stationary, cur rent will passfrom the battery 53 through the conductors 54 and 46, lamps 47,conductors 45 and 43, to the right hand. brush 42 of the armature 41,thence out. of the 1011 hand brush 42 of the armature along theconductors 4.3 and 51, magnet armature 31, set screw 26 and conductor52, hack to the opposite side of the battery 53. A portion of thecurrent when it. reaches the coil 12 will also passthrough said coil andby means ol the conductors 43 and 51, magnet armature 31, set screw 26and conductor 52 alsobaek to the opposite side of the battery. ll nowthe general or armature is rotated a current will be generated. thereinowing to the fact that the circuit through the held is closed by.

completed right hand brush 42 and forming the field coil of the motor,the opposite end of said conductor 49 being attached to the set screw 25connected with the magnet armature 30, and by means of the conductorwith the opposite brush 42 of the armature through the conductor 43. Thecurrent passed through the coil 12 from the battery is of insullicientstrength to operate. the magnet. armature 31 against the tension of theweaker spring 34, but as soon as the armature begins to rotate a currentis passed from itthrough the coil 12 by means of the circuit orconductor 43 connecting the brushes of the armature to the opposite endsof said coil, this current is of sufficient strength to attract themagnet armature 31 into contact with the plate 27, and the currentpassing from the armature through the conductor 43 divides the greaterpart passing through the conductor 51, magnet armature 31, contact 27,conductor 46, lamps 47, conductor 45, to the right hand end of coil 12and thence by the conductor 43 back to the generator armature. Themovement of the magnet armature 31 to the contact 27 breaks itsconnection with the set screw 26, thus cutting the battery 53 out of thecircuit as soon as the potential of the current from the generatorarmature becomes strong enough to attract the armature 31. In case uponan increase in speed or for other cause, the potential of the currentthrough the circuit 43, and, consequently, through the circu'it formedby the conductors 45 and 46" containing the translating devices 47 risesand becomes too great, the core 13 of the electro-magnet will attract toit the magnet armature 30,. thus breaking the circuit through theconductor 49 constituting the field coil of the generator and causing areduction in the potential of the current through the translatingdevices 47 and the doil 12. The spring 36 being stronger than the spring34 will not operate until the potential of the current from thegenerator has increased over the potential sufficient to operate themagnet armature 31 against the tension of the weaker spring 34.

In1mediately upon the lowering of the potential through the coil 12 bythe breaking of the field circuit of the generator, the spring 36,returns the magnet armature 30 to its con-" tact with the set screw 25,thus again closing the circuit through the generator field coil. Shouldthe rotation of the generator armature 41 be discontinued, the spring 34will draw the magnet armature 31 away from the contact 27 and againstthe set screw 26, thus again closing the circuit from the battery 53 tothe translating devices 47 and preserving a practically constantpotential on the circuit.

Having fully described my invention, What I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is- I 1. The combinationwith a generator armature, of a lield circuit therefor, an armaturecircuit, a translating device adapted. to be connected to said armature,a second source for supplying current to said translating device, andmeans controlled by the current in said armature circuit for governingthe current in said field circuit and from said second source.

2. The combination with a generator armature, of a field circuittl'ierefor, an arma ture circuit, a translating device adapted to beconnected with said armature, a second source for supplying current tosaid translating device, means controlled by the current in saidarmature circuit for governing the current in said field circuit, andmeans also controlled by the current in said armature circuit forcontrolling the flow of current from said second source.

3. The combination with a generator armature, of a field in seriescircuit therewith, an armature circuit, translating devices adapted tobe connected with said armature circuit, a second source for supplyingcurrent to said translating devices, and means controlled by the currentin said armature circuit for governing the current in said field circuitand for governing the-flow of current to said translating devices fromsaid armature ,and fromsaid second source.

4. The combination with a generator armature, of a field circuittherefor, an armature circuit, translating devices adapted to beconnected to said armature, a governing device for the current in saidfield, a second source for supplying current to said translatingdevices, a governing device for simultaneously controlling the currentsfrom said second source and armature, and means governed by the currentin said armature circuit for actuating said governing devices.

5. The combination with a generator armature, of a field circuittherefor, an armature circuit, a translating device adapted to beconnected with said armature, means actuated by a current of lowerpotential in said armature circuit for governing the supply of currentto said translating devices, and means actuated by a current of higherpotential in said armature circuit for governing the current in saidfield circuit.

6. The combination with a generator armature, ofa field circuittherefor, an arma' ture circuit, a translating device adapted to beconnected with said armature,, a second source for supplying current tosaid translat ing device, means actuated by one current in said armaturecircuit for governing the supply of current from said armature andsecond source to said translating devices, and means actuated by anothercurrent in said arma- ICC ture circuit for governing the current in saidture. circuit. a translating device adapted to be energized from saidarmature circuit, a second? source for supplying current to saidtranslating device, an electro-niagnet ener- 1 gized from said armaturecircuit, means controlled by said magnet for governing the current insaid lield circuit, and means also con- 5 trolled by said magnet forgoverning the current in said armature circuit and from said secondsource. 8. The combination with a generator armature, of a field circuittherefor, an armature circuit of varying potential, a translating deviceadapted to be energized from said 5 armature circuit, a second sourcesupplying Q ,Inagnet energized from said armature circuit,

means controlled by said magnet and re-' current to said translatingdevice, an electrosponsive to a given potential in said annature circuitfor governing the current in said lield circuit, and separate means alsocontrolled by said magnet and responsive to a The combination with agenerator armature, of a held current therel'or, an arma- 1 l lowerpotential in said armature circuit for governing the current in saidarmature circuit and from said second source.

l). The eonibinatiol'i with a generator ar- 1 mature. ol' a lieldcircuit therelor. an ariuae ture circuit of varying potential. :1translating device adapted to be energized from said z'u'niaturecircuit, a second source supplying current to said ranslatingdevicej anelectroi magnet energized from said armature circuit, means controlledby said electro-magnetand l only responsive to a given potential of"said said field circuit, and separate means also controlled by saidmagnet and responsive to a lower potential in said armature circuit forsimultaneously governing the current. in said armature circuit and fromsaid second source.

In testimony whereof. I have hereunto set my hand and allixed in seal inthe presence of the two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES H. DUNCAN. [1,. s.]-

- Witnesses:

James II. BRYSON, BENNET'IE PlKE.

armature circuit for governing the current in

